Saving you from the boring laptop bag

August 06, 2014

Whether you're working on your undergrad or graduate degree, in law school, or even medical school, keeping organized on campus is a lot easier when you have a great bag working with you. In addition to our back to school on backpacks (which you can take advantage of by using the coupon code COLLEGE2014) one of our favorite designers is also running a special featuring four of their best bags for students at a 25% off discount! These luxury leather bags are truly an investment that will be with you through your degree and right into your career!

This classic messenger style briefcase is perfect for student studying law, or any other degree that requires you to carry a lot of files! Apart from the padded laptop compartment, the Hendrix Double Buckle Messenger two other compartments that are great for keeping your notebooks, folders, and papers organized. It also has a smaller compartment that fits an iPad, tablet or eReader perfectly!

Backpacks may not seem professional, mostly because you probably used one on your first day of kindergarten, but this luxury bag definitely proves that stereotype wrong. This bag is perfect for a student who has a long commute or who has to travel a long ways across campus to get from class to class. This bag features a laptop compartment for a 17 inch computer, several pockets for a phone, pens and pencils, files, business cards, and anything else you'll need for class.

The Tyler Tumbled backpack is very similar to the Hendrix version, just a different kind of leather and a slightly more refined look. This is a bag I can see students taking to class as well as executives using to bring files and their computer to the office. This bag is designed to be wide enough to allow files to sit sideways, but slender enough to work for a busy commute. This bag also makes a great travel companion with lightweight, durable padded straps and a front compartment designed to hold larger Bose or Beats headphones!

It's not hard to see why this bag is called the office traveler because it basically is an office on wheels! This bag can be used on your commute to work, as a carry on for your business trip, or for lugging heavy text books from one end of campus to the next! This Italian Leather beauty can hold all your class, work, and travel essentials and still have room for extras. It has a 17 inch laptop compartment, separate iPad pocket, large front pocket for headphones, interior organizer, and plenty of space for clothes and toiletries. When it's not being wheeled around, the back pocket can slide over your luggage handle for an easy trek from the airport to the hotel.

August 04, 2014

Nowadays, most businesses opt out of travel and into video conferencing but sometimes nothing can really beat a face-to-face meeting. Whether you’re a multinational organization or a small company, a considerable amount of time goes into planning a businesses trip overseas and often plans are built around the most cost-effective way to travel.

Even though you cannot control travel fees, there are several ways for businesses to save money. By knowing where and when to cut back costs, you can avoid making the trip a tight drag.

From keeping track of payments and taking advantage of any add-ons, these following tips will help keep your company from going into the red.

1. Is Travel Necessary?

Ask yourself whether you really need to travel? Many businesses have video or web conferencing technology that allows them to carry out overseas meetings from their own office, and if they don’t there’s always Skype.

We know, we know… you’d rather not battle bad connections and crackly audio but faster Internet speeds and advances in technology have pretty much eliminated these faults, so you can have a cost efficient chat with clients.

2. Book travel in Advance

If business is booming, there’s not always an opportunity to book travel in advance, but if you can, you may save yourself some bucks. Plan you travel schedule and book up early, as rates tend to rise closer to the travel date.

3. Compare Flight Costs

You’re not always limited to one airline, use search engines like Skyscanner to compare flight costs. However, make sure the comparison site doesn’t eliminate budget flights. If you’re familiar with an airline that offers cheap flights, go direct to their website. They’ll probably be cheaper, plus, they may feature more flight times.

Also, ensure that the comparison site doesn’t exclude regional airports. Admittedly, regional airports can be more expensive but the locality can save you time and costs further down the line such as transfers.

4. Downgrade

You may be used to first class business travel, neck massages and free champagne but it’s time to eat some humble pie, swallow your pride and downgrade your ticket! Trust us, it’s not that bad. By changing the way you travel, time you travel and whom you travel with, your company could save a pretty penny.

5. Collect Rewards and Ask for Discounts

Whether you find yourself flying long haul frequently or making short trips regularly, you’re most probably a frequent flyer who is entitled to loyalty programs, rewards or discounts.

You could be collecting air miles, hotel loyalty points or credit card benefits, whenever or wherever you travel. Ask if your providers can give you any extras and you might set yourself up for a little treat or a huge dividend.

This is especially effective if you consolidate spending to one credit card. You can limit spending and maximize flier miles, along with other benefits – Amex anyone?

6. Be Clever with your Currency

Never buy your currency at the airport. You’ll get lumbered with the worst exchange rates possible, as they will rely on the fact that you’re a captive customer and drop them by eye–watering amounts.

Banks and high street stores also offer lower exchange rates as they rely on their customer’s loyalty and the convenience of their store location.

Your best bet is to buy your foreign currency from an online provider or get cash in your destination country from a local vendor.

7. Get a carry-on suitcase

Limit the luggage allowance for employees. Suitcases can be expensive add-ons and more than often a cabin-sized case provides you with plenty of gear for a short trip.

Ensure that you invest in a carry-on case that promises quality, then it’s guaranteed to last and you’re guaranteed to save plenty of dough in the long-term.

Plus, it will save everyone time at the airport as there will be no need to check in any luggage or wait to collect it when you land.

8. Use Off Site Airport Parking

It may seem convenient to park next to your departure gate but the bill won’t be. Head to the airport 10 minutes earlier and use an off-site car park in order to save some dollar.

9. Use Public Transport

That Porsche you hired, you know the really expensive one, did it sit in the hotel car park for the duration of your vacation? Car Hire is probably not the most sensible option, nor the most cost worthy.

Travelling by public transport or foot can shave massive amounts off of your expenses. Public transport can seem awful so do your research and weigh up your options before you go using guides such as Lonely Planet.

Fair enough…if your options boil down to a crammed shuttle bus with no A/C, we understand if you want to hire a car. But rent a reasonable one and ask for a free upgrade when you pick it up. Remember if you don’t ask…you don’t get!

10. Buy Necessities Abroad

Doing a little research before you travel will help you figure out whether necessities are going to be cheaper out there, or at home. Considering what you can buy cheaper abroad will not only save you money but space in your suitcase.

All in all, the key is to find simple money saving solutions. It doesn’t take a second to ask an airline for a free upgrade or research the most cost efficient credit card with an air miles bonus scheme. Just remember not to spend all your time scrimping and scraping, otherwise the benefits will be outweighed by the time it took to get them.

*Ed is a blogging, travel and money-saving enthusiast. When he isn’t penny pinching you can find him blogging on the best money-saving tips, tricks and services.

July 30, 2014

Since 1987, designer Alicia Klein and her team have been creating accessories tailored to the hard-working, stylish professional woman! From wallets to handbags, from laptop bags to briefcases, all these beautiful bags and accessories are of the highest quality leather and will only get more character as they age. An Alicia Klein bag is an investment that will last you years, and that's why we love them so much! From today until August 11th, we're offering 15% off all of Alicia Klein's smart and stylish designs. Here are just some of our favorite styles to choose from! To claim your discount, just use the coupon code ALICIAKLEIN15 at checkout.

July 25, 2014

The Summer has just flown by and in just a few weeks, it'll be time for undergrad and graduate students to head back to school! Lugging textbooks, notebooks, and laptops from one end of campus to the other can sometimes be just as challenging as the classes, so it's especially important to find a bag to help keep your materials organized and your back from breaking under the weight! A little style doesn't hurt either... To help you prepare for the semester ahead, we're offering 10% off our entire selection of backpacks! To redeem your discount, use the coupon code COLLEGE2014 at checkout from today until August 24th! Here are some of my favorite styles:

This luxurious leather backpack is an bag you'll have through college and into your adult years! It's made of top-grain cowhide leather that's strong enough to last years, yet soft to the touch. The Claire Chase Portofino Backpack is great for keeping you organized from class to dorm. It has tons of exterior and interior pockets for separating your school essentials from your personal items, like your phone, wallet, and keys. The interior padded compartment holds a laptop up to 17 inches in screen size and has compartments for files on either side. It also has a rear interior section that will hold a tablet, pens and pencils, your phone, and more! The Portofino backpack is also available in a smaller version that will accommodate a 15 inch computer.

The Olivia bag is all work during the day and all play at night! This convertible leather tote can be worn as a backpack or a messenger style, depending on your mood, your outfit, or your class load. This trendy bag is one you'll be proud to tote around campus. The black leather quilted pattern and silver hardware give it an edgy, biker look that any fashionista will love! Inside this chic backpack is a pocket dedicated for your phone, a padded laptop compartment that holds a 13 inch laptop or Macbook, and another padded pocket for your tablet, iPad, or eReader.

This bag may not look like your standard backpack, and that's because it's not! The Urban Junket Messenger/Backpack is a versatile tote that can be worn several ways to accommodate your personal style and needs. It comes with two adjustable, removable straps that can be hooked in the back to form a backpack that's easy and comfortable to carry. This bag makes a great class bag, but is also perfect for travel. The interior has a padded laptop section and plenty of space for clothes, toiletries, a tablet, book, and anything else you'd like for a trip. The back pocket opens on both sides and can slide over the handle of a rolling suitcase to make moving through an airport easier. This bag also comes in a larger size that can hold a 17 inch computer!

Laurex is a brand known for their tech-savvy designs and playful aesthetics. This bag in particular is decorated with a flower on a gun metal background, but comes in several other patterns to appease any style. This backpack is made of durable nylon that's affordable even on a student budget. Outside, it has two deep pockets that are perfect for holding your phone, wallet, keys, and charging cords. Inside, it has two main compartments for keeping your books, folders, and notebooks separate from your computer and tablet. This version has a padded laptop compartment for a 17 inch computer, but they also offer a smaller versionthat will hold a 15 inch laptop.

July 18, 2014

Finding the balance between work you and real you can sometimes be difficult. In an office environment, you're expected to speak, act, and dress a certain way and while keeping with the expectations of the workplace is essential, it doesn't necessarily mean losing your personality! The easiest way to remain uniquely you is to infuse little hints of personality into your wardrobe.

The new Francesca bag from McKlein is a great bag for subtly letting your wild side show even in the office! It's the perfect balance of professional style and personality! This bag comes in two styles, bright red and black with a crocodile print both accented with a gorgeous leopard print lining! This is the type of bag that will match your pencil skirts and blazers as well as jeans and your favorite top. It has a simple shape, but the small details give it the perfect amount of style.

Inside, this bag has all the features you need for the office. It has two slip pockets for holding your phone, keys, or sunglasses and one larger zippered pockets for items you would like to keep more secure. The 16" laptop compartment is actually a removable, padded sleeve, so you can take it out and use the bag as a purse or put it in a larger carry-on for laptop protections when your traveling!

July 17, 2014

Jill-E Designs is all about creating smart and stylish designs to hold and protect your most precious gadgets! From laptops to tablets to cameras, the designers at Jill-E have managed to create bags that match both your personal style and your gadgets! For the next two weeks, we're offering 15% off all of Jill-E's cleverly designed bags. To claim your discount, use the coupon code JILLE15 at checkout! Both their men's and women's tech bags are as beautiful as they are practical, so get one for you or one for him, or better yet, one for each of you! Here are some of my favorite styles:

This edgy laptop bag will certainly outdo your current tech case in style! The black leather, quilted pattern, and exterior and silver accents give this bag a biker look that sets it apart from most laptop bag designs. Inside, this bag has designated places for all your gadgets! The walls and all the pockets are padded so your computer, phone, and tablet stay safe on even the most perilous commutes! The Veronica bag also comes with a detachable holder for your credit cards and I.D.s and an adjustable padded shoulder strap for comfort!

This is the perfect laptop bag for any man! Unlike most women, men don't need to carry a ton of extra stuff around. The Lenox bag is kept simple with just enough room for everything he needs and nothing he doesn't. The interior has a padded compartment for a 15" laptop, slots for credit cards, I.D's, or business cards, and a pocket for a phone. This bag is thin, lightweight, and comfortable to wear with top carry handles and a removable, adjustable, padded shoulder strap!

This versatile bag can be whatever you want it to be! It's a purse, a laptop bag, a tablet bag, or a camera bag depending on the day and the user! This adorable handbag is made of durable, weather-resistant leather and comes in cream, beige, brown and black. The inside features tons of pockets and compartments to keep you organized at work, on the go, or just out running errands. It has a padded compartment that will fit a small, 12" computer or tablet and the main compartment is large enough for a DSLR camera.

Jack 15" Laptop and Camera Backpack

This is a bag for the serious photographer! It's a camera bag when you're working and a regular old backpack when you're not! This versatile backpack is lightweight and comfortable to wear, even when you're lugging around a computer and your camera gear. The interior features a padded compartment for your laptop and a large open space you can either fill with on-the-go essentials or the Jill-E Camera Insert. The insert is padded and has fully configurable dividers so you can organize your lenses and camera body how you like them and keep them safe!

July 14, 2014

Traveling for business or pleasure can be stressful! In addition to planning your activities and accommodations at your final destination, you also have to worry about how you're getting their and what you'll need for the journey. Selecting a suitable carry on and suitcase is a good start, but there are several smaller accessories that can make staying organized en route a cinch! From travel makeup cases to garment bags, bringing along one of these extras can only make the trip easier so the destination is even more enjoyable!

One major concern for traveling is keeping your toiletries organized and separated from the rest of your items. There's nothing worse than opening up your suitcase to find your shampoo has spilled over all your clothes! The Sweet Traveler Bag from Amy Butler is adorably designed and practical for stowing your shampoo, conditioner, face wash, make up, and other bathroom needs safely in your suitcase! It unzips to reveal a large open space, two slip pockets, and four smaller accessory pouches that are great for slipping in your purse or carry on!

When you're traveling to an important event, like a business meeting or wedding, the clothes you're bringing are extremely important and need to be treated well so they look presentable when you arrive. Cramming a gown or expensive suite into a suitcase can cause it to wrinkle and crease and if you're on a tight time schedule, this could be a real problem! One solution is to carry on your important outfits in a garment bag like this one from Claire Chase! This lightweight, leather bag is a perfect carry on for your most important outfits. It folds in threes so it's compact and comes with an adjustable, removable shoulder strap so it's easy to carry through the airport. Your garments will arrive looking just as they did when you packed them!

If you're like me, you bring a ton of necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets when you travel to complement every outfit you might wear! The worst part about traveling with jewelry is arriving to find your favorite necklace tangled up with your favorite earrings and having to spend time untangling it before you can wear it out. The Killer Jewelry Kit from Urban Junket keeps your pieces separated and organized so you'll never have to experience this problem again. This case is separated into two compartments; the bottom has a zippered pocket and four removable zippered pouches that you can leave in the case or take with you in your purse. The top compartment has three more zippered pockets, a ring holder, and a small removable mirror.

A place for everything and everything in its place! This hanging travel bag from Urban Junket keeps all your toiletries and jewelry in one smartly designed travel accessory. This bag stands on it's own, so you can keep it on the bathroom counter or hang it up for easy access to your toiletries. The inside features a large open space that can fit most shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and hairspray bottles easily. It also has six interior pockets for smaller items and 13 elastic sections that will hold brushes, razors, deodorant, and lotion.

July 11, 2014

We spend 9 months out of the year wearing subtle clothes; Fall is all about rich, deep reds and browns, Winter is for dark and dreary grays, and spring is for light pastels. But Summer is the season where the Sun is shining and the brights come out to play! There are several easy ways to add a splash of color to your work wardrobe; you can try adding a fun scarf, a funky heal, colorful blouse, or bag in an unexpected hue! Check out these vibrant, yet professional bags for an added pop of color to your favorite basic suit!

This sleek laptop case is like a clutch for your computer! It's slim and slender, but provides protection for your 15.4" laptop and plenty of pockets and slots to keep you organized. The lightweight design is made of brightly colored vinyl with flexible silicone handles. The outside is kept simple, giving it a sleek, minimalist look, but the inside makes up for the lack of outside storage. The interior organizer has a laptop section, a large slip pocket for magazines, files, or a tablet, and three smaller pockets for your cords, chargers, and phone! It's available in 7 colors including this rich, apple red!

This fabulous leather bag is a dream for the fashionista and working woman alike! The outside is made of vibrant tooled leather in a gorgeous papaya shade with lime green handles and teal accents. It may be small, but this bag has a place for everything! The interior features tons of pockets including two interior wall pockets that will hold your phone, keys, makeup, and business cares. Unzip the center compartment and you'll find two larger pockets and a small zippered coin purse. Oversized feet keep this tiny bag standing upright and protect it from damp or rough surfaces. It also comes with a detachable shoulder stap so you can wear it as a handbag or messenger style!

For business travel, there's nothing more convenient than a rolling laptop bag and this fun design will brighten up even the dreariest airport! The Cabrelli rollerbrief is one of our most popular styles because of it's spacious interior, retractable handle, and reasonable price and this version is great for the edgy career woman on the go! This bag comes in black, pink, cobalt blue, and yellow faux leather adorned with gold pyramid studs. It has a place for everything you'll want on the plane: side slip pockets for watter bottles or an umbrella, a padded laptop compartment for a 15.6" computer, one zippered and two slip pockets for your phone, wallet, or travel documents, and a large open space for a change of clothes, toiletries, or a book!

This McKlein laptop bag is the quintessential office handbag. It's constructed of genuine Italian leather for a luxurious look that your co-workers will envy! The outside is kept fairly simple with one large pocket that holds pens and pencils, business cards, keys, and your phone. Inside is removable, padded laptop sleeve that will accommodate a computer up to 15.4" in screen size. There's also a double compartment divided by secured zipper pocket so you can keep important documents separate from your personal items. The best part of this style is the array of colors. The black and dark red shades are perfect for Fall and Winter, the powder blue and light pink work well in spring, and the orange and lime green go perfectly with your fun Summer wardrobe!

July 08, 2014

Statistically, women’s median income is 19% less than men’s. Of course, there are numerous variables involved including age, occupations, hours worked, etc. but just as much, women often find it more difficult to negotiate wages. So, here are 5 tips to aid you in your next negotiation:

1) Don't go in cold

All too often, we’ve seen women enter negotiations ‘cold’, not having rehearsed the negotiation in their mind before and the various points that might be raised. While it’s not possible to predict the actual conversation, most of the points in a good performance review / salary negotiation should already have been covered beforehand. Rehearse your answers in your mind or with someone else and you’ll feel more comfortable for when the negotiation does occur.

2) Keep written notes of your contributions. Numbers matter.

If this is your initial salary negotiation on hiring, keep notes of your past accomplishments on hand. If you are negotiating a raise, you should have been keeping notes of your accomplishments with the company – everything from major projects you have managed, new tasks and responsibilities you have taken on, money you have saved the company, etc. Anything you can nail down to hard numbers will help even more.

3) Know what you're worth

You can’t negotiate if you don’t understand what you are really worth. Use websites like PayScale and talk to others in the field to get an understanding of what you are worth. Of course there are industry and company differences, but without a benchmark it’s impossible to tell how well you are doing.

4) Numbers first

If at all possible, let the employer name their number first. In addition, their first offer (or counter-offer) is often not their final offer.

5) It's not all about money

Do not forget – the negotiation is not just about wages. Secondary benefits like telecommuting, sick days, vacation days, an expense account can all be negotiated. Often, a cash-strapped business might not be able to offer direct salary compensation but will be flexible in other areas. Lastly, a final tip – you can also negotiate to come back to review your accomplishments in a shorter time-frame than 1 year.

* This article is contributed by Tao Wong of PDB Sales Inc. an e-commerce consultancy based in Vancouver, BC.

July 03, 2014

Mighty Purse is the new must-have accessory for stylish women on the go! Designed by Bondi Beach in Australia, these luxury wristlets are made of genuine goat leather and are soft to the touch. Mighty Purse has a bunch of features that make them just as functional as your favorite wallet; the interior of each features credit card slots, a zippered coin pouch, and one feature that really sets it apart, a built in phone charger!

In this day and age, we use our phones to do just about everything. While this is helpful, using a lot of apps tends to wear down the battery on your phone. Since outlets are sometimes hard to find, you can see how having a purse with a charger built in can come in handy! The rechargeable battery pack is discretely hidden inside a small zippered pocket on the inside of the purse. One one end is a USB cable that can be plugged into your computer or wall charger. Once charged, you can attach the other end to your phone. Mighty Purse comes with a standard Micro-USB charger which is compatible with most Droids and Blackberry phones, but Apple iPhone adapters are also available.

Mighty Purse is available in 15 colors to fit any style, from professional to quirky! These handy bags normally retail for $99, but for the next two weeks we'll be offering $15 off, bringing the total to just $85! You can redeem your $15 discount at checkout using the coupon code SAVEMIGHTY until July 15th. Check out the entire color selection of Mighty Purses on Careerbags.com.